Spike-puller



V. A. COBB.

SPIKE FULLER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1919.

1,329,45 j Patented Feb. 3,1920.

VERNON A. COBB, OF CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA.

SPIKE-PULLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3, 1920.

Application filed March 29, 1919. Serial No. 286,066.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VERNON A. COBB, a citizen of the United States,residing at Charleston, in the county of Kanawha and State of West Virinia, have invented a new and useful Spike lPuller, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to spike pullers and has as its primary object toprovide a device of the character which Will facilitate the engagementof the same with the spike to be pulled.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a spike puller,the rocking movement of which will not be hindered as is oftenexperienced in spike pullers and which is due to the heavy claw draggingon or frictionally engaging the rail tie; this disadvantage beingdispensed with by the employment of a roller.

A further object is to provide a spike puller which is easily andquickly operated and which is effective and durable in use.

An additional object of the invention resides in the provision of aspike puller which is simple in construction, consists of few parts, andwhich may be manufactured and placed on the market at a minimum cost.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view the inventionconsists of combinations, constructions, arrangement of parts, andgeneral assemblage to be hereinafter enlarged upon and pointed out inthe appended claims.

On the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a spike puller constructed in accordancewith my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device;

liig. 3 is a rear elevation of the same; an

Fig. 4 is a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawing wherein like parts are designated by likecharacters of reference, the numeral 5 denotes a shank or handle whichis relatively long and is cast from non-bendable metal.

A claw 10 is formed upon the lower end of the shank which is providedwith the usual spike receiving slot 11.

Formed in the heel of the claw 10 is a transverse opening 12 which iscylindrical and opens upon the face of the heel and extends the entirewidth of the heel.

Rotatable in the transverse opening 12 is a roller or cylinder 13 whichis of a diameter to project beyond the plane of the heel and contactwith the rail, tie or other object. This roller 13 serves as a fulcrumfor the claw 10 as well as to overcome friction between the heel of theclaw and the tie.

Washers 14 are arranged upon the sides of the claw adjacent the heel andoverlie the ends of the roller to retain the latter in the opening 12.Set screws 15 retain these washers in place.

The embodiment of the invention here shown and described is consideredthe preferred construction but it is to be understood that the same issusceptible to various modifications and that my limits of modificationare only governed by the sub-joined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a spike extractor, a bar, a claw formed upon one end thereof andprovided with a spike receiving slot, the heel of the jaw beinguniformly curved and provided with a transverse cylindrical opening thatopens upon the under face of the heel at the curved portion normallyabove the contacting surface when the claw is initially engaged with thespike, a cylindrical roller rotatable in the opening and adapted tocontact with the object from which the spikes are to be extracted toreduce friction therebetween, and means at opposite sides of the bar androtatable tangentially in overlapping relation to the ends of theroller, to prevent endwise movement of the roller and permit freeturning thereof.

2. A spike puller comprising a bar having a claw and a curved heelportion extending therefrom and terminating in the handle of the bar,the heel of the claw at the curved portion being provided with atransverse substantially semi-cylindrical opening that opens upon theunder face of the heel at the point of curvature thereof normally abovethe contacting surface on which the bar rests when the bar is initiallyengaged with a spike, a roller rotatably mounted in the opening andadapted upon the depression of the bar to contact with the objectuponwhich the spikes are to be extracted, screws removably secured inopposite sides of the bar adjacent to the opening and circular Washersrotatably mounted on the as myown, I have hereto affixed mysignaslirews11 and partially overlyinlgl" thenends of ture in thepresence of two Witnesses. t e r0 er, W ere y to turn as t e r0 er turnsto cause even Wear of the Washers, said Wash- VERNON COBB 5 ers servingto prevent longitudinal dis- Witnesses: l

placement of the roller. L. L. TOWNLEY, In testimony that I claim theforegoing WILBUR STUMP.

